Surveyor&#39;s levelling rod tape clamp



Oct. 27, 1959 A. s. MILLER SURVEYORS LEVELLING ROD TAPE CLAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1955 INVENTOR. ARTHUR 5. MILLER WM ATTORNEY FIG. 3

Oct. 27, 1959 A. s. MILLER 2,909,839

SURVEYOR'S LEVELLING ROD TAPE CLAMP Filed Oct. :5, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ARTHUR 5. MILLER A T'T'ORNEY Oct. 27, 1959 A. s. MILLER SURVEYORS LEVELLING ROD TAPE CLAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 3. 1955 rlllllllllllllzlllll- I/II/I! r: fin!!! I A WYW nanny/K0 llllllllllllllllllll I:

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' INVENTOR. ARTHUR 5. MILLER BY FIG. 13

ATTORNEY ity for hard practical usage.

United States Patent fiic My invention relates to an improvement in a surveyors levelling rod.

It is a feature of my invention to provide arod having a continuous tape and which may be folded for easy carrying. It is also a feature to provide a rod having a releasable lock which positively positions the tape and at the same time locks the tape in vertical position but which allows the tape to be extended up or down due to the continuous nature of the tape and the mounting therefor. I also provide means for extending the reading range of the rod beyond that which is available at present which includes a folding hinge and movable tape, the tape remaining in true position with its guides 'when folded or extended.

1 Y It is a further feature to provide a yieldable'end'portion on the rod over which the continuous tape is posi- "tioned thereby providing constant uniform tension "throughout the entire tape and allowing the rod to be hingedly folded. The hinge provides for tape alignment and spring mounting and at the same time when the rod is in extended position, the hinge supplies sufiicient rigide Itis an additional feature to provide a releasable lock with means for easily and positively guiding the tape positioning pin members into holes formed in the tape under compression and at the same time clamp the lock in desired position. My lock construction also prevents gplay in the tape.

' It is an additional feature to provide a rod which has slot means for receiving the free ends of the tape positioning pins of the releasable lock. r

I shall not here attempt to set forth and indicate all of the'yarious objects and advantages incident to my invention, but other objects and advantages will be referred "to" in or else will become apparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the detailed description when taken in connection with the faccornpanying drawings, showing by way of example preferred embodiments of the inventive idea wherein like numerals are employed to designate like out.

parts through- In the drawing s forming part of this application:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my rod, part of the same being broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is aperspective view of the hinged end of the rod in a folded unlocked position, the outer ends of the rod being broken away. i

Figure 4 is an end view of the releasable lock for the -"tape in clamping position, the rod portions being shown "in section.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with the releasable lock in released non-clamping position. i

Figureo is a section on the line 6 6 of Figure l. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion ofthe "upper end of the rod.

' metal foot protector 43.

Figure 8 is a perspective view similar to that shown in Figure 7 but with the tape removed to show the yieldable spring mounted end member for the tape.

' Figure 9 is a section on the line 9--9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a front plan view of the lower end of the rod and illustrating the boot thereof for extending the range of the rod, portions of the boot being broken away.

Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-41 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a detailed enlarged view of the extension clamp.

Figure 13 is an enlarged top plan view of the releasable tape positioning lock in open released position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my surveyors rod A includes the front tape supporting elongated core member 10 formed of the lower half portion 11 and the upper half portion 12 which are hinged together by means of the construction hereinafter described. The front surface of the core portions 11 and 12 are formed with the V-grooves 13 to allow for easy sliding movement of the tape 14 thereon hereinafter described.

The lower core portion 11 is mounted within the lower channel member 15 which is composed of the flat bottom portion 16, the side portions 17 and 18, and the lip or flange portions 19 and 20 extending inwardly from the side portions 17 and 18 respectively. The elongated core portion 11 is secured within the channel member 15 by means of the screws 21 extending through the walls 17 and 18. The lower end of the channel member 15 is fitted with the plug member 22 which fits into the lower channel member 15 and is secured by the screws 23 Which extend through the side portions 24 of the U-shaped bracket clamp member 25. This construction also secures the bracket 25 in position on the channel member 15. a I further provide the elongated U-shaped channel member 26 which acts as a back support member and is -slidably maintained on the back side of the lower channel member 15 by means of the bracket 25 and the side plates 27 and 28. The side plates 27 and 28 are secured to the back support channel member 26 by means of the small bolts 29 and are formed with the right angular flange portions 30 and 31 respectively which overlie the flange portions 19 and 2 0 of the lower channel member 15 to thereby slidably maintain the back support channel 26 on the channel member 15'. The back support channel member 26 is moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 to extend the range of the rod A.

The channel member 26 is secured in position on the member 15 by means of the take-up screw 32 threadedly mounted on the bracket 25 and adapted to bear against extendable elongated boot member 33 which is used to further extend the range of the rod A. The boot 33 'is rectangular in cross section and is formed with the spaced recesses 34 which receive the 111 35 for predeitermined extension of the rod generally in. one foot lengths. 'The pin 35 is mounted on the underside of the flat lever bar 36 which is formed with the ear portions 37. The bar36 is secured to the top of a fiat spring member 38 which in turn is secured to the bracket 39 by means of the bolt 40. The bracket 39 is secured to the channel member 26 by means of the small bolts '41. The

'spring 38 urges the pin 35 toward the boot 33 andinto 35 from any of the holes 34, the ears 37 bypass the bolt 40. 'The lower end of the boot 33 is formed with the The bracket- 27 hasiormed thereon the upstanding flange 44 to which is secured the upper ends of the longitudinal rods 45 and 46, forming part of the releasable tape lock B. The lower ends of the rods 45 and 46 are secured to the upstanding flange 47 of the plate 48 which in turn is secured to the channel member 26 by means of the bolts 49. I further provide the inverted channel base member 50 on the top of which are secured the elongated semi-circular lower clamping portions 51 and 52. I further provide the elongated semi-circular upper clamping members 53 and 54 which are positioned on the rods 46 and 45 respectively and overlie the clamping portions 51 and 52 respectively. The upper clamping members 53 and 54 are connected by the cradle member 55 which has formed on the upper surface thereof the longitudinal arcuate depressed portion 56. Secured to the base member 50 is the upstanding threaded rod 57. Positioned directely beneath the cradle member 55 is the longitudinal draw-up bar 58 which has a hole formed there through and through which the rod 57 extends. The rod 57 also extends through the hole 59 formed in the cradle 55. Mounted on the rod 57 is the coiled tension spring 60 and the nut 61 for adjustably compressing the spring 60.

I further provide the arcuate spaced cam members 62 and 63 which ride in the depressed portion 56 of the cradle 55. Pivotally secured to each end of the elongated bar 58 by means of the nuts 66 are the links 64 and 65. The upper ends of the links 64 and 65 are pivotally connected oft center to the outer sides of the cam members 62 and 63 respectively by means of the threaded pins 67 and the nuts 68. Connected to the cam members 62 and 63 adjacent the pins 67 is the throw member 69 which is used to clamp or unclamp the lock B and also move the tape positioning pins hereinafter described.

Slidably positioned in the transverse channel member 50 is the arm 70 which has formed on the outer end thereof the right angular spaced finger portions 71 which carry the tape positioning pins 72 by threaded engagement therewith. The pins 72 are formed with the pointed or tapered ends 73 for easy and guided entrance into the holes 74 of the tape 14. The tapered portion '73 of the pins 72 allows positive positioning of the tape with no movement possible. Connected to the outer end of the arm 70 is the bracket 75 having the spaced upstanding portions 76. I further provide the link member 77 having the outer forked end portions 7 S which are pivotally connected to the upstanding portions 76 by means of the pin 79. The link member 77 is also formed with the inner forked end portions 80 which are pivotally con nected to the cam members 62 and 63 in an offset position by means of the pins 81. The channel member 50 is formed with the spaced slots 82 through the top thereof which receive the spaced upstanding portions 76 when the lock B is closed with the handle throw 69 in the position shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6.

To position the tape 14 with regard to the channel support 15 and the remainder of the rod hereinafter described, the tape is moved with the operators thumb so that a pair of the holes 74 are directly beneath the pair of pins 72 with the handle throw 69 in the open released position of Figures 5 and 13. To move the pins 72 into the holes 74 the throw handle 69 is moved to the position in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6 and in so moving the end portions 80 of the link 77 are pivotally drawn downwardly and inwardly thereby drawing the arm 70 inwardly of the channel by means of the forked end portions 78.

The core members 11 and 12 which support the tape are also formed with the longitudinally extending recess 12' along the one edge thereof which receives the ends of the pins 72 when extended through the tape. As a result the tape 14 with the pins 72 extending therethrough may be moved on the core members.

In the locked position of Figure 4, for example, the

pins 81 are past dead center, and the pins 67 are brought up slightly over dead center to releasably lock the pins 72 in the holes 74 of the tape 14 thereby making the tape stationary with regard to the channel member 15 and the lock B when the take-up screw 32 is in a tightened position. When the screw 32 is loose and the lock B is in locked position, the tape may be extended up or down by moving the channel members mounting the cores 11 and 12.

In the above action or movement just described, the longitudinal draw-up bar 58 is raised against the action of the spring 60, and as the spring 60 is forced upwardly against the nut 61 on the rod 57, the cradle member 55 is forced downwardly due to the action of the cam members 62 and 63, against the same. As the cradle 55 is forced downwardly the clamping members 53 and 54 are brought into gripping contact with the rods 46 and 45 respectively. It will thus be seen that by a single movement of the handle throw 69 into the closed position the lock B is securely positioned on the member 26, and at the same time the pins 72 are moved into the holes 74 of the tape 14. It will also be noted that in locked position the pins 67 are brought up over dead center position. The clamping tension of the lock B is easily adjusted by means of the nut 61 against the spring 60.

My rod A further includes the upper core portion 12 hereinbefore mentioned which is secured within the upper channel member 83 by means of the screws 21. The channel 83 is formed of the back or bottom portion 84, the side portions 85 and 86 and the flange portions 87 and 88. Mounted in the upper end of the channel member 83 is the plug 89. Positioned against the inner surfaces of the side members 85 and 86 of the channel 83 are the flat longitudinal members 90 and 91 respectively which have formed therein the longitudinally extending guide slots 92.

I further provide the tape supporting roller member 93 formed of the base member 94, and the arm members 95 and 96 connected thereto. The arm members 95 and 96 have formed on the outer surface thereof the elongated key portions 97 which move in sliding engagement in the slots 92. Rotatably mounted on the outer ends of the arms 95 and 96 by means of the shaft 98 is the roller member 99. The roller 99 is urged upwardly away from the upper end of the upper core 12 by means of the spring 100 mounted on the rod 101 slidably positioned in the elongated hole 102 formed in the upper end of the upper core portion 12.

The continuous tape 14 is positioned over the spring urged slidable upper roller 99 and a similar stationary roller 103 rotatably mounted in the lower end of the channel 15 and is in close contact with both flat sides of the core portions 11 and 12.

I provide in addition, the bracket members 104 and 105 forming part of the hinge C and which are secured to the upper end of the core member 11. The brackets 104 and 105 are formed of the base portions 106 and 107 and the right angle flanges 108 and 109, respectively. Also provided are the brackets 110 and 111 complementary to the brackets 104 and 105 of the hinge C. The brackets 110 and 111 are secured to the lower end of the upper core member 12 and are formed of the base portions 112 and 113 and the right angular flange portions 114 and 115 respectively. The flange portions 108 and 109 have threadedly mounted therein the positioning pins 116 which may be adjusted by means of the nuts 117 to determine the position the flanges 114 and 115 assume with relation to the flange portions 108 and 109 when the rod A is in the extended locked position of Figures 1 and 2. In brief, the under surface of the flanges 114 and 115 rest on the top ends of the adjustable pins 116.

The flange portions 108 and 109 are hinged to the flange portions 114 and 115 respectively by means of the pin 118 and conventional hinge construction .1119.

Mounted on the hinge construction 119 is the roller 120 over which both the front and rear portions of the tape 14 extend when the rod is hinged and folded as in Figure 3. My rod A is also provided with the roller 121 which is mounted at the upper end of the core portion 11 and roller 122 which is mounted on the lower end of the core portion 12. The tape 14 bears against the rollers 121 and 122 particularly when the rod A is hinged as in Figure 3.

The flanges 114 and 115 are formed with the bifurcated ends 123 and 124. Extending from the portions 106 and 107 of the brackets 194 and 105 respectively are the small arm members 125 and 126 on which are pivotally mounted the connector members 127 and 128 respectively. Extending from each of the connectors 127 and 128 is a rod threadedly engaged with the connectors and adjustably positioned by means of the nuts 129. The rods extending from the connectors 127 and 128 extend into the casing portions 130 and 131 wherein they are spring mounted, and the casing portions 130 and 131 are extendable from the connectors 127 and 128 against the action of the springs by means of the links 132 and 133 which are pivoted off center in the slotted cam plates 134 and 135 respectively by means of the pins 136 and 137. The cam members 134 and 135 are provided with lever handle portions 138 and 139 respectively for throwing the pivot, such as 136, over dead center to the locked position of Figure 2.

To place my rod A from the hinged condition of Figure 3 to the locked position of Figures 1 and 2, the channel casing 83 is grasped and lifted to a position in line with the channel member 15 with the flanges 114 and 115 resting on the pins 116. Then the links 132 and 133 are placed into the bifurcated ends 123 and 124 respectively and the handles 138 and 139 pulled to the position of Figures 1 and 2 with the cam members 134 and 135 bearing down against the top surfaces of the flanges 114 and 115 pulling against the action of the springs in the casings 130 and 131. If the locking tension action of the cams 134 and 135 is not correct, adjustment may be made by the nuts 129 hereinbefore mentioned.

When my rod A is changed from rigid extended position of Figures 1 and 2 to folded or hinged position of Figure 3, the slidable roller 99 is drawn towards the core 12 against the action of the spring due to the tightening of the tape 14 as the channel piece 83 is hingedly folded. As the rod A is folded the tape 14 neatly positions itself over the roller 129 and the rollers 121 and 122. When the rod A is returned to the position of Figures 1 and 2, the roller 99 returns to its position in Figures 7 and 8.

I have thus provided a direct reading surveyors rod A which may be conveniently folded and which may be extended by means of the channel 26 and/or the boot 33. In addition the tape 14 is simply and positively locked relative to the channel member 26 when the pins 72 are positioned in any of the holes 74, and in such position the casing may be slidably extended upwardly, for example on the casing portion 26 to the desired position and then clamped in position by means of the screw 32. Generally however the tape 14 is moved and positioned on the core members, and the channel casing 26 is adjusted and clamped in position on the casing 15 before the pins 72 are positioned in the holes 74 by moving the handle 69 of my lock B into the locked position of Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6. It is apparent that the pins 72 are movable longitudinally of the core 11 by means of the lock C slidably and adjustably positioned on the rods 45 and 46. It further length is needed, the

boot 33 may be pulled from the channel casing 26 and positioned by means of the pin 35.

In using my rod A, the operator places the lower end foot member 43 of the same on any point of known elevation. Then the tape 14 is adjusted and set by means of the construction described to read that elevation at the cross hair of the surveyors level instrument. The instrument man effects the setting by signaling up or down to the rod man. When the tape 14 is set and locked in position and held on various points of unknown elevation, the level instrument will allow direct reading of the true elevation of each successive point selected. This method of direct reading obviates the addition and subtraction computations necessary in conventional levelling practice and allows for more precise, usable direct reading under varying conditions. It is apparent that when the pins 72 are in the holes 74 of the tape 14 with the lock B in locked position as in Figures 1 and 2, the numeral '7 of the tape, for example, will remain opposite the pins 72. However, in this position, the front section composed of the core members 11 and 12 and the supporting channel members may be moved up and down with the tape 14 passing over the rollers 99 and 103 to provide more or less tape extended up or down.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an adjustable tape positioning clamp for the endless tape of a surveyors rod, 21 pair of spaced rods, base support members secured to said rods, an upper clamping member on each of said rods, a lower clamping member on each of said rods, a cradle member connecting said upper clamping members and formed with a concave surface, a base member connecting said lower clamping members, an arm slidably positioned transversely on said base member, a draw-up bar member, a cam member positioned on said cradle member, link members connecting said cam member in an off center position and with said draw-up bar, a rod member secured to said base member and extending upwardly through said draw-up bar and said cradle, a spring mounted on said rod and adjustably secured thereon with a screw member against said bar member, a link arm member having one end pivotally connected in an off center position to said cam member with the other end pivotally connected to said slidable arm, the outer end of said slidable arm having pins means connected thereto, a handle throw member formed on said cam member for moving the same to move said slidable arm inwardly and thereby move said pin means into holes formed in the tape and simultaneously draw said draw-up bar upwardly to force said cam downwardly against said cradle member to cause said upper clamping members to grippingly engage against said rod members.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 886,354 Darling May 5, 1908 905,441 Lenker Dec. 1, 1908 905,442 Lenker Dec. 1, 1908 1,161,358 Stotler et al. Nov. 23, 1915 1,224,938 Lenker May 8, 1917 1,783,507 Kapps Dec. 2, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,129 Great Britain Jan. 26, 1912 22,101 Great Britain Sept. 27, 189'] 

